It’s a little known fact that back in 1964 there was an independent rear suspension (IRS) designed for the Mustang by Carroll Shelby’s crew. It never eventuated, most probably due to budget constraits but the Original Crew who worked on the car has wondered all these years how well it would have worked. So they set about finding out.

This past week I received a nice little package from the guys at Classic Recreations, my Carroll Shelby signature Shelby gauges, in KPH. (hey, i live in Australia!). They are something I’ve talked about quite a bit and whilst I already purchased a great set of Autometer gauges quite a few years ago I just could not pass up the opportunity to have these guys in my car. Check them out after below.

If you would have told me 10 years ago that my loved Eleanor Project will be scrapped one day in favour for a more standard looking GT500 resto-mod I would have said you’re mad. But that is just what is happening this year.

This past week we came across a piece of Mustang memorabilia for sale. Though it brings back more bad memories than good. An officially licenses Shelby GT500 E Super Snake built by the now infamous Unique Performance. For those not around for the UP debacle well here’s a summary.

The guys over at Hot Rod Magazine posted an awe-inspiring story this week we could all only dream about. Rich Barnes was towing home a nice rare 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT. 350 find home after finding it chained to a carport in Compton. Only to have the car on the trailer attract attention for all the right reasons.

The 68 Shelby G.T. 350 fastback with chassis 8T02J149293-01092 was parked and chained to the carport. Image: Muscle Car Review

After delivering a Ford Bronco to a customer Rich thought it would be a fun idea to go on a bit of a road trip in the hopes of tracking down a Mustang he saw in an obscure advertisement. He had spoken with the owner once before. He was reluctant to part with the rare car though Rich took a chance and went on the drive anyway. Rich didn’t realise the nature of Compton and it’s surrounding areas “I didn’t think anything of it until I started driving into the area and saw how depressed and trashed it was.” This would explain why the car was found chained to the car port.

Upon talking to the owner he found out the fastback had the original 302 J-code small-block under the hood, backed by a four-speed and a 9-inch rearend. Somebody had flared the fenders too. They also dropped the suspension and beefed up the stock brakes. It was one of 223 Hertz rental cars. The Wimbledon White Shelby had a little race history. The body was California rust-free. A deal was done and Rich parted with $8,200 and drove off with a nice 1968 Shelby GT350.

The car was complete and did not take much to start and run.

Now here’s were it gets interesting. While filling up with GAS somewhere outside Reno a bearded gentleman in his 70’s commented that he had one just like it but “it’s a GT500!”. The guy seemed genuine though was reluctant to take Rich to see it despite wanting to sell it.

Once Rich returned home he was straight on the phone and organised to go straight over as soon as possible. Upon inspecting the gentleman’s property Rich, to his amazement, did found the red Shelby GT500 in a shipping container. “We rolled it out and cleared things off, and it really looked like hell,” Rich remembers. “But underneath, the body was in really good shape with little or no rust. He showed me extra blocks, cranks, heads, trannys, and all these other parts that went with the car.”

I’m afraid that’s where the story ends with no mention from Rich if he was able to walk away with yet another rare find.

Our friends over at HotRod.com have posted a great little story about a truly awesome barn find. Something we all wish we’d come across. A 1967 Shelby GT500.

The car, which belongs to Scott Drake’s Paul Kerner was recently displayed ‘as is’ at the Mustang 50th anniversary show in Las Vegas.

The car was purchased in 1997 as a true barn find. “A coworker found the car. He said it was coming out the next day in the local Recycler, so if I wanted the car, I had to buy it now.” So then and there the car was purchased for $14,000. Yes, you read that right.

The car has sat in his garage for quite some time and he admits it’s something he’s just “never got around to”.

Though what is interesting about the car is in 2003 a rep for Kylie Minogue got in touch wanting to buy it for $100,000 for her father Ron. Paul, in no hurry to sell, wanted $110k and so the deal didn’t happen.

Funnily enough only a six years later news hit that Ron Minogue got duped out of a fake 1968 GT500

So today the car still remains as it was found all those years ago. Head on over to HotRod.com for the full story and pictures.

It’s been 18 months since Carroll Shelby’s passing and sometimes we just love to be reminded about what the great man helped to build. This video is a perfect example. The GT350 and GT500 were the first aftermarket Mustangs to be offered and both came with powerful v-8 engines.

The sheer rarity and price tags Shelby vehicles fetch these days is a testament to his vision and overall the amazing vehicles he’s left with us.